Electronically controlled beverage dispenser

A method for regulating the filling of a tank with a liquid, the tank having an interior volume and an inlet connected to a source of the liquid and a pump for introducing the liquid into the interior volume, and an upper electrical probe and a lower electrical probe located within the tank interior volume and each probe connected to a control and the control including conductivity sensing means for sensing electrical conductivity between each probe and the tank separately, and the control connected to and operating the pump for regulating flow of the liquid into the tank interior volume as a function of the conductivity sensings of the probes, the method for filling comprising the steps of:

• providing an electrical potential to the upper and lower probes,
• making a plurality of electrical conductivity sensing readings at substantially the same time between the upper probe and the tank and between the lower probe and the tank,
• determining if liquid is present or not at the upper probe and at the lower probe based on the majority of the electrical conductivity readings indicating the presence of the liquid or not at each probe respectively,
• operating the pump to initiate a flow of the liquid into the tank interior if it is determined that no liquid is present at both the upper and lower probes or stopping any flow of water into the tank interior if it is determined that liquid is present at both the upper and lower probes or if the probes do not agree as to the presence or not of liquid, not changing the current state of introducing liquid into the tank interior volume or not introducing liquid into the tank.

A beverage dispensing machine, comprising:

• A carbonator tank having an interior volume and an inlet connected to a source of water, a pump connected to a source of the water for introducing the water into the tank interior volume,
• a level sensor within the tank interior and including an upper electrical probe and a lower electrical probe and each probe connected to a control and the control including conductivity sensing means for sensing electrical conductivity between each probe and the tank separately, and the control connected to and operating the pump for regulating flow of the liquid into the tank interior volume as a function of the conductivity sensings of the probes whereby an electrical potential is provided to the upper and lower probes so that a plurality of electrical conductivity sensing readings can be made at substantially the same time between the upper probe and the tank and between the lower probe and the tank for determining if liquid is present or not at the upper probe and at the lower probe based on the majority of the electrical conductivity readings indicating the presence of the liquid or not at each probe respectively, and the control operating the pump to initiate a flow of the liquid into the tank interior if it is determined that no liquid is present at both the upper and lower probes or stopping any flow of water into the tank interior if it is determined that liquid is present at both the upper and lower probes or if the probes do not agree as to the presence or not of liquid, not changing the current state of introducing liquid into the tank interior volume or not introducing liquid into the tank.